Courtesy of GSU Communications
Pastor George Lee, IV of The Springs Church in Ruston, discussed influence vs. impact and anchoring actions with conviction, courage, and a sense of community as he served as the keynote speaker for Grambling State University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance Ceremony on Tuesday inside the Betty Smith Nursing Building Auditorium.
The program, which GSU Miss Cover Girl Jaiya Davis presided over as Mistress of Ceremonies, also featured remarks on the occasion from Grambling State President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr., a welcoming statement by Student Government Association president Amaya Moore, a prayer by junior class president Tylen Davis, a pair of songs performed by the GSU Choir, a Liturgical Dance by members of the Orchesis Dance Company, and closing remarks by GSU Associate Director of Campus Programming Craig Johnson.
“It’s because of the leaders who have led for years, who have sacrificed time, talent and sometimes life, that we get to be at this moment,” Lemelle said. “And so, Dr. King reminded us that the moral fiber of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. And so, when we think about injustice that we see, we have to remember that justice is on the way. So, we ask the question oftentimes, ‘How long?’ And the response from the crowd is usually, ‘Not long.’
“And so, when you go to your class and you think about those difficult assignments, or if you’re trying to do the math on financial aid and thinking about your economic future, remember that it won’t be long because you are dedicated to this work, that you are marching to the beat of today’s movement and that you are pioneers for change. So, we celebrate Dr. King, and we celebrate you. We celebrate that you are leading change and that you’re champions for a very bright future.”
Lee began his speech with a seemingly simple story about a pencil and eraser, saying the pencil is busy writing, creating and shaping while the eraser just as faithfully follows behind, correcting, removing and restoring.
He said that at first, the pencil is resentful of the eraser removing all of its words, but the eraser responds with quiet wisdom, saying that it only removes mistakes.
“Then comes that line that lingers with me,” Lee continued. “To erase the wrong is just as important as writing the right. The truth sits at the very heart of Dr. King’s life. Dr. King was not merely a man who dreamed beautifully; he was a man who was willing to erase boldly. Erase injustice, erase segregation, erase the systems that would tell certain individuals that would tell us that we are less than human. He was a man who lived his life to erase the wrongs.
“Here’s the part we often forget, family. Every time the eraser did its job, it got smaller. The eraser gives us a little bit of itself every time it corrects what’s wrong. Isn’t that the story of Dr. King? Each march cost him comfort. Each speech cost him safety. Each stand for justice cost him a piece of his life. The story says it plainly. We can’t do good for others unless we’re willing to sacrifice something.”
Lee said Dr. King understood that impact always comes with a price, calling always comes with a cost and being who you were created to be will always demand something from you.
“So, the question isn’t whether or not justice costs us anything, the question is whether we’re willing to pay the cost,” Lee said. “The pencil eventually looks at the eraser and asks, ‘Do you still hate me?’ And the answer stops me every time. ‘How can I hate someone who gives so much of themselves?’ That is the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Family, this story isn’t about a pencil and an eraser. It’s about what it means to live a life that matters. And today, as we honor Dr. King, we are confronted with a question that refuses to stay in history, ‘Are we willing to give a little of ourselves to erase what is wrong and help write what is right.’ There are many moments in Dr. King’s life that we can examine, but one moment speaks to me more than most.”
Lee then recounted a story told by King Jr. about a midnight prayer, when, after facing an intense threatening phone call and feeling immense pressure, King felt overwhelmed and weak, questioning if he could continue before praying aloud at his kitchen table, confessing his faltering courage to God, as described in his own words.
“The threats were no longer vague, they were personal,” Lee said. “And in that moment, he admitted something we don’t normally associate with giants — he was afraid. You can be a giant and be afraid. You can be a leader and be afraid. You can be called and be afraid. He prayed, confessing his weakness, his fear, his exhaustion, and then he said that he felt the presence of God as clearly as he ever had, as if God said to him, ‘Stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth, and I will be with you.’
“That was the moment Dr. King realized that his fight could cost him his life. But it was also the moment he found strength to continue. Three things resonate for me from that midnight prayer. First, fear is not the absence of faith. We can all be afraid. Second, strength is discovered and surrendered. And lastly, conviction is formed in private before it is displayed in public.”
Lee said that while today we live in a culture obsessed with influence, Dr. King instead pursued impact.
“Influence asks the question, who knows my name?,” Lee said. “Impact asks the question who is different because I showed up? I heard it said one time, ‘I would hate for you to climb the ladder of success only to find that it is leaning against the wrong building.’ I would hate for you to invest your life, to invest your time, to invest your energy and your resources, to climb the ladder of success only to find that it’s leaning against the wrong building.
“Dr. King climbed the ladder. But it leaned against purpose. He climbed a ladder, but it leaned against justice. He climbed a ladder, but it leaned against faithfulness to God. So today, the question is not how high are you climbing? The question is, what is your ladder leaning against? May we be people of conviction, people of courage, people rooted in community, people anchored in Christ and may our lives, like Dr. King’s, be ladders leaning against the right building.”
Before going into a final prayer, Lee told the crowd the opportunity before them is tremendous.
“Many of you are charting places and spaces that have not been experienced before by many in your family, many in your communities, and we have a tremendous opportunity. My hope and my prayer for you today, family, as we continue to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is that we will pursue lives not of influence, but impact.”
